Justine Bigham

Justine Owens was born on January 2, 1937, in Yuma, Tennessee. She was the fourth of six daughters born to Tanie Owens and Mabel Pearson Owens. Justine was raised and grew up on farms in the Carroll and Henderson County areas of Tennessee because her parents were farm workers. She professed a hope in Christ at an early age and united with Parkers Chapel Baptist Church in Clarksburg, Tennessee.

Justine attended and was a graduate of Montgomery High School in Lexington, Tennessee. She subsequently moved with her family to a farm in Atwood, Tennessee across from M.T.A. school. She and her four surviving sisters sung gospel in the local communities as the Owens Sisters. It was in Atwood that she met the love of her life Rogers Lee Bigham. This occurred when he and Nathaniel McCullough came to their home to invite the Owens Sisters to a program at their church.

On September 6, 1958, Justine Owens was united in marriage with Rogers Lee Bigham. To this union were born a son Reginald Alan and a daughter Alacia Lynnette. Justine was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker while continuing as a farm worker. She became an outstanding seamstress as she made clothes for herself and her family. Justine and Rogers made their home in Mclemoresville, Tennessee. Justine united with the church of her husband, Reedy Creek Baptist Church in Mclemoresville, Tennessee. While there she continued to use her gift for singing. She was a devoted member of Reedy Creek’s Senior Choir and worked with their Junior Choir. She also faithfully sung with the community’s Fellowship Choir, which for a time performed quarterly concerts. She and her husband were also active in the Obion River District Association of which Reedy Creek was affiliated.

Justine became employed as a seamstress at the Milan Shirt Factory in Milan, Tennessee in 1965. She sewed shirts in multiple departments for many years until the establishment’s closure. After a brief period of work at another clothing plant in Mclemoresville. Justine stopped working outside the home to take care of her husband who had become disabled. She continued to enjoy singing gospel and sewing after she officially retired. She also for a time played the piano for some community churches. She was an accomplished seamstress making many of her own church outfits. She made many outfits with matching hats and elaborate embellishments. She also did seamstress work for her family and friends until her health precluded her from doing so.

On January 6, 2026, Justine was called home to rest. Justine was preceded in death by her parents Tanie and Mabel Owens, her sisters Lizzie Mae, Eula V., Laura Mazell, Sarah Ann and Irene, her husband Rogers Lee Bigham, and her daughter Dr. Alacia Lynnette Bigham. Justine is survived by her son Dr. Reginald (Richlyn) Bigham of South Bend, Indiana and a special stepson Pastor Richard (Linda ) Adkisson of Milan , Tennessee, her grandchildren Sherreese Genell Dones’, Reginald Alan Bigham II and Darian Justice Bigham-Youngblood, her great-grandchildren Genell Lavette Dones’, Micah Ivan Dones’ and Cairo Cruz Bigham, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.